Ghana prepares toward total solar eclipse on March 29

Ghana would be one of the best places to observe the total solar eclipse to be experienced on March 29 and it has set up a Committee to coordinate the activities for the observation, according to Ghana News Agency on Thursday.

"A partial solar eclipse is interesting; a total solar eclipse is awe-inspiring," Ferdinand Ayim, Special Assistant to the Minister of Tourism and Modernization of the Capital City, said at the inauguration of the National Planning Committee to coordinate activities and prepare a national program for occurrence of the solar eclipse.

The solar eclipse on March 29, 2006 would pass through Brazil and some African countries, including Ghana, Togo, Cote d'Ivoire and Nigeria as well as Turkey, and other countries around the world.

A total solar eclipse also referred to as the eclipse of the sun occurs when the umbra of the moon shadow touches a section on the surface of the earth blocking the sun's light as viewed from the earth.

The duration of a total solar eclipse could be as short as a few seconds or as long as eight minutes.

"If you have an opportunity to observe a total solar eclipse, don't miss it. It is an experience that you will never forget," he said.

The National Planning Committee would be responsible for sensitizing the public about the eclipse and ensuring an incident- free event.

The Committee would also create awareness on the importance of protecting the eyes, as observing an eclipse with the naked eye could cause an irreversible damage.

The Committee made up of personnel from the Ministry of Education and Sports and Ministry of Information would later have scientists to guide people on what could be done to have an incident-free observation.

Source: Xinhua